West Ham have accepted an #11million bid from London rivals Chelsea for Frank Lampard.

Chelsea managing director Colin Hutchinson confirmed the Blues have been given the green light to sign the 22-year-old England midfielder just a day after selling Gustavo Poyet to Tottenham.

Hutchinson also said that a move for former Arsenal midfielder Emmanuel Petit, unsettled at Barcelona, is also a distinct possibility.

"We have made a bid of #11million for Frank Lampard and that has been accepted by West Ham," said Hutchinson.

"That means we have been given permission to speak to the player. It's fair to say he has other options and nothing is going to happen overnight as he is currently on holiday.

"When he returns we will look to sit down with him and find out if he wants to come here. If he does we will try and agree personal terms."

Lampard made it clear to the Hammers that he wanted to follow his uncle Harry Redknapp and father Frank Lampard senior out of the door at Upton Park following the duo's departure from the club last month.

A number of clubs were interested in the goalscoring midfielder and Aston Villa had a #15million combined bid for Lampard and Frederic Kanoute turned down.

Meanwhile Petit, 30, has failed to hold down a regular place with the Spanish giants this season following his move from Highbury - but any move back to London would have to wait until the end of Spain's domestic season.

Hutchinson told the club's website: "We've had a number of ongoing discussions with Barcelona about Petit but they are currently on hold.

"Barcelona have a chance of qualifying for the Champions League if they beat Valencia next week and they are also in a two-legged cup semi-final.

"Understandably they don't want any player disrupted for these games by talk of transfers so their season could go on until the end of June."